New crosswalk approved for county workers, tourists

Friday, November 13, 2009

By AMY ZUBEK azubek@tnonline.com

Carbon County employees and tourists who use the county-owned parking lot in Jim Thorpe will soon have a new crosswalk to utilize.

During the county commissioners' meeting on Thursday, the board voted to approve a change order to the triple track crossing project that was recently completed. The change order calls for the installation of a six-foot wide crosswalk to be installed next to the new vehicle crossing. It will increase the total cost of the contract $9,393, for a new price of $117,458.

Commissioner William O'Gurek, chairman, said the new walk will be for pedestrians' safety.

"We're willing to spend the money to keep people safe," he said. "We're going to encourage the people to use it."

Carbon County will share the extra cost with the county railroad commission.

Last week, the board discussed adding a pedestrian crosswalk, after they realized the new crossing at the entrance of the parking lot is three feet narrower than the previous entrance.

The triple track crossing project had been in the works since 2006.

In 2007, the project was rejected for funding by the 2008 Rail Freight Assistance Program grant because it didn't meet the necessary requirements.

The county railroad commission reapplied for financial assistance for the project in 2008 for 2009, but again, it was denied.

In August, the board of commissioners voted to award the project to W.E. Yoder, Inc., of Kutztown who bid $108,065 on the project.

Earlier this month, the parking lot was temporarily shut down and work on the project was completed.